(Peru, Neb.) – The first set did not look good for the Peru State volleyball team as the visiting Mount Mercy (Iowa) Mustangs pretty much had their way with the Bobcats as they won 25-12.
 
However, after an "inspired" pep talk by their graduate assistant coach, the 'Cats came back to life in the second set which sparked the fire for the rest of the match.
 
Peru State took the second set 25-18, then dropped the third set 25-22 before taking the fourth set by the same score. This set up the fifth and deciding set.
 
The Mustangs actually jumped out to an 8-3 advantage before the teams switched courts and Peru State was back on their winning side. The Bobcats slowly climbed back into the set and went on a 12-3 run to win 15-11.  
With the win, the 'Cats improved to 9-15 on the year and 5-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Mustangs dropped to 16-11 overall and 5-9 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
Mount Mercy started off with three straight points before a kill by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) off an assist from Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) stopped the run. Peru State never led in the set and after it was 7-6 Mount Mercy, the Mustangs jumped to a 17-9 lead and went on for the easy first set win.

 
Second Set Action
 
After the Mustangs scored the first point on a Bobcat attack error, Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) got a kill from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.) to tie it. An attack error by Mount Mercy made it 2-1 and then Taylor Thompson (Norfolk) put down a kill on an assist from Jaspe. The Bobcats would lead the entire set and eventually built a ten-point lead at 19-9 when Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) nailed a kill off an assist from Burianek.
 
Mount Mercy would make a little run and pulled within five late at 22-17, before Jaspe and Burianek hooked up for a kill/assist. After the Mustangs scored a point, Jaspe then got a kill from Quinonez Holguin. The final point would come on a setter dump from Quinonez Holguin.
 
Third Set Action
 
As the score would seem to indicate, the third set was tight. There were eight ties, but only three lead changes as the Mustangs gained control late. The Bobcats built an early lead and led by six at 12-6 after another setter dump by Quinonez Holguin. Peru State would still lead later at 18-15 after a Mustang attack error, but that is when Mount Mercy started its comeback.
 
After tying it at 18-18, Jaspe and Quinonez Holguin produced a kill and then Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) put down a kill on an assist from Thompson. This forced a Mount Mercy timeout which prompted some fire in the Mustangs who would score three straight to take the lead.
 
Peru State would still be tied at 22-22 after Kira Shapiro (Omaha) had a kill, but Mount Mercy would score the final three points for the third set win.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
The fourth set was even tighter than the third as there were 13 ties and four lead changes. However, the start of it did not make it seem like that would be the case as the Bobcats jumped to a 6-0 lead which was aided by multiple attacking errors by Mount Mercy.
 
The Mustangs would fight their way back to actually lead 12-10 before Shapiro and Quinonez Holguin combined for a kill/assist. Another attack error by Mount Mercy would tie it again.
 
The set would be tied at 13-13, 14-14, 15-15, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, and then the last tie was at 22-22. Shapiro broke the tie with a kill off a set by Quinonez Holguin. Thompson would get a kill off an overpass and then would end the set with a kill coming on an assist from Quinonez Holguin.

 
Fifth Set Action
 
The fifth and deciding set was one of runs and the initial run by the Mustangs did not make it look good for Peru State. Mount Mercy led 3-0 before a service error got Peru State on the board. The Mustangs would extend their lead to 8-3 before the teams switched courts. That would be the start of the Bobcat comeback.
 
Jaspe nailed a spike off the assist from Quinonez Holguin and then Shapiro made it 8-5 with a kill of her own. A setting error pulled the 'Cats within two before Shapiro and Mollhoff combined for a block to make it 8-7 Mount Mercy. The Mustangs would get the next point to extend their lead to two.
 
A kill by Shapiro, followed by an attack error on Mount Mercy tied the set at 9-9 – the only tie of the set.  Jaspe served up an ace and the Bobcats took the lead for the first time in the set. A solo block by Mollhoff made it 11-9 and then Shapiro got another kill to make it 12-9.
 
A Mount Mercy error gave Peru State a four-point cushion at 13-9. The Mustangs were not done as they landed a kill of their own, but the 'Cats were smelling a win. Thompson hooked up with Quinonez Holguin for a kill, but Mount Mercy countered with a kill. The final point would come on a solo block by Janjevic and the Bobcat fans erupted with more noise.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
While neither team's hitting percentage was very impressive, it was each team's defense that was a major factor. Peru State hit just .134 while Mount Mercy hit .124. But, as noted, the defense of both came up huge as the Mustangs finished the match with 126 digs and the 'Cats had 122.
 
In addition, the Bobcats were credited with 11 total blocks while Mount Mercy had five. Peru State added eight service aces with seven errors while the Mustangs had three service aces and five errors.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Jaspe led Peru State with 16 kills on 48 swings while Janjevic also finishing in double digits with ten kills while hitting .364. Thompson and Shapiro each added nine kills while Quinonez Holguin added five – all on setter dumps.
 
Burianek and Quinonez Holguin each had 21 assists to lead the Bobcats.
 
Thompson and Jaspe each had two service aces to lead the team. Janjevic, Burianek, Quinonez Holguin, and Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) each added one service ace.
 
Cudney had a career-high effort defensively as she had 51 digs in the match – over 40% of her team's total. The 51 digs sets the best mark in the NAIA so far this season, topping the previous best of 50 which was set in the second week by a McPherson (Kan.) player.
 
Jaspe also finished in double-digit digs with 30 while Thompson added 15. Burianek and Quinonez Holguin each were one shy of reaching double figures in digs.
 
Janjevic had five solo blocks and one block assist to lead the team while Mollhoff added two solo and one block assist. Thompson and Shapiro each had one solo block while Shapiro adding one block assist.  
Upcoming Matches
 
The 'Cats will be hosting Clarke (Iowa) at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the Al Wheeler Center in the "Community Peru Day" event. The Pride have won three in a row and are now 21-6 overall and 9-4 in the Heart.
 
Peru State will step out of conference play Tuesday night when they travel to Leavenworth, Kan., to face the University of St. Mary at 7 p.m. The Spires are presently 16-11 overall and are 6-1 in their conference – the KCAC.